Roadside Pest Funding to Help Manage Threats to Local Agriculture

Ararat Rural City Council has received funding to assist in supressing the spread of roadside weeds and pests throughout our region.

The Minister for Local Government, the Hon Shaun Leane MP has allocated funding of $63,628 for Ararat Rural City Council through the ‘Roadside Weeds and Pests Program.’

“This funding goes directly towards controlling weeds and pests across 2,300km of our rural road network, as well as Council managed tracks and reserves,” Ararat Rural City Council CEO Dr Tim Harrison said.

“Roadsides are an easy avenue for pests and weeds to spread through our region. Maintaining these are an important early intervention to reduce the risk of pests infesting our natural environment and agriculture crops.”

In addition to the work delivered via this program, Council also maintains a range of important relationships with different groups and organisations to assist in pest control.

“Our Waste and Sustainability Coordinator is in constant communication with groups such as the Upper Hopkins Land Management Group, Beyond Bolac Catchment Action Group, Project Platypus and Moyston Landcare Group to monitor and suppress the spread of weeds and pest animals,” Dr Harrison continued.

“Community members are also encouraged to notify Council about any concerns about the spread of weeds and pests, along our roadsides. This can be done by notifying us if you identify any weeds or rabbits in our region that need to be managed.”

For full details on Ararat’s Roadside Weeds and Pest Control Plan, visit our website at: https://www.ararat.vic.gov.au/property-development/environment-waste/pest-plants-animals or email [email protected] to report a pest or to request further information.

People who are unsure about noxious and prohibited pests and would like to know more, can visit the Agriculture Victoria website for a guidance about plant and animal pest control: https://agriculture.vic.gov.au/biosecurity.